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Pre 1897 thumbnails

 

COOCH BEHAR, MAHARAJA OF
Neg. No: 3404
Neg. Size: 15"x12"
Neg. Date: 11-08-02

copyright V&A

Sitter: Colonel HH Sir Nripendra Narayan Bhup, Maharaja of Cooch Behar (1862-1911)

.Colonel HH Sir Nripendra Narayan Bhup, Maharaja of Cooch Behar (1862-1911)

Colonel H.H. Maharaja Shri Sir Nripendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, Maharaja of Cooch Behar, GCIE (23.2.1888), CB (m 20.5.1898). b. at the Royal Palace, Cooch-Behar, 4th October 1862, second son of H.H. Maharaja Shri Narendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, Maharaja of Cooch Behar, by his second wife, H.H. Rajmata Nishimayi Deo Aye Devati educ. Wards Institute, Benares, Bankipur Coll., Patna; Presidency Coll., Calcutta and Calcutta Univ.

Succeeded on the death of his father, 6th August 1863 and was installed on the gadi that same evening. Reigned under a Council of Regency until he came of age and was invested with full ruling powers, 8th November 1883. Hon. Colonel, IA 11/1/1902 (Hon Lt-Col. 30/7/1887, Hon Maj. 22/8/1883) attached 6th King Edward’s Own Lancers. Served in the Tirah exped. 1896 and on the NWF 1897 (rcvd. medal). Hon ADC to HM The King-Emperor Edward VII 11/1/1902 – 1910 (and when Prince of Wales, 30/7/1887 – 1901), Extra ADC to HM The King-Emperor George V 4/6/1911. Attended the Delhi Durbar 1877 and rcvd. a sword of honour and the KIH Medal. Attended the Coronation of H.M. The King Emperor Edward VII in 1902 (rcvd medal), Delhi Durbar 1903 (rcvd. Gold Medal), and the Coronation of HM King Emperor George V in 1911 (rcvd Medal).

Married at Cooch-Behar, 6th March 1878, H.H. Maharani Siniti Devi, CI (18.3.1887) (b. at Sens House, Calcutta, 1864; d. at Ranchi, 10th November 1932), sometime Regent of Cooch-Behar and President of the State Council, eldest daughter of Babu Keshab Chandra Sen. He d. suddenly, at Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex, 18th September 1911, having had issue four sons and three daughters.

Biographical information provided by Christopher J Buyers , The Royal Ark http://www.dreamwater.net/regiment/RoyalArk/royalark.htm

Date: 11 August 1902

Occasion: Visit to England as A.D.C. to King Edward VII at the Coronation of 1902.

Location: Lafayette studio, 179 New Bond Street, London.

Descr: FL standing.

Costume: Review order uniform of the 6th (Prince of Wales's) Bengal Cavalry. Officer's Kurta of 1897 period (with pockets), scarlet facings and lace gold. Blue turban, with blue, white and gold stripes, the kulla red and gold. Scarlet cummerbund with gold. Belt buckle with VR monogram.

Orders, Decorations & Medals: (1) Star, Sash (dark blue) and Badge of a Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire [G.C.I.E.(1) cr. 23 February 1888](2) (2) Badge of an (Honorary) Military Companion of the Order of the Bath, [C.B. cr. 1898] (3) Queen Victoria Jubilee Medal 1887 with 1897 bar (4) India Medal 1895-1902., with 3 bars, (probably) Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Samana 1897 and Tirah 1897-98.

Furniture & Props: Painted backdrop.

Photographer: Lafayette Ltd., 179 New Bond Street, London.

Evidence of photographer at work: Clamp retouched out.

All images of sitter:

Copyright: V&A

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Provenance: Pinewood Studios; acquired 1989.

References:

Biog: Who's Who; Who's Who In India, Lucknow, 1911; The Times, 19 September, 1911, p 6c; Sunity Devee, Maharani of Cooch Behar, The Autobiography of an Indian Princess, London, 1921; Gayatri Devi and Santha Rama Rau, A Princess Remembers: The Memoirs of the Maharani of Jaipur, London, 1984, p 40; Maharajah of Baroda, The Palaces of India, London, 1980; Pauline Rohatgi, Portraits in the India Office Library, London, 1983, pp 276-7; Charles Allen, Lives of the Indian Princes, London, 1984, p 113.

Occasion: The World Coronation Visitors' Supplement, June 18 1902, p 3a; The Times, especially 3 July 1902, p 8a & August 13 1902, p 8a; J.E.C. Bodley, The Coronation of Edward the Seventh: A Chapter of European and Imperial History, London, 1903, pp 252 & 387; India Office, Ref. L/P&S/7/142/521

Costume: A.N. McClenaghan, Editor, Durbar Magazine.

Orders, Decorations & Medals: (1) Burke's Peerage; (2) Burke's Peerage; Who's Who; (3) Howard N. Cole, Coronation and Royal Commemorative Medals 1887-1977, London, 1977; (4) A.N. McClenaghan, Editor, Durbar Magazine.

Reproduced: (Version) Montague Grahame-White, At the Wheel, Ashore and Afloat: Reminiscences of Motoring, yaching and Travel Over a Period of Forty Years, London, 1935 (incorrect date), opp p 82.

Acknowledgements: (Medals) Mrs. S.K. Hopkins, Head of Uniforms, Badges & Medals, The National Army Museum; (Uniform & Medals) A.N. McClenaghan, Editor, Durbar Magazine; Biographical information provided by Christopher J Buyers , The Royal Ark http://www.dreamwater.net/
regiment/RoyalArk/royalark.htm

1. "Her Majesty is graciously pleased to confer on me the G.C.I.E; but although greatly honoured and proud, I was sorry it was not the G.C.S.I., which I am sure is what H.M. meant to give." Cable from the Maharaja to the Maharani of Cooch Behar, quoted in Sunity Devee, op cit, pp 124-125.

2. This date given in Burke's Peerage, however Who's Who states 1887.